This story on the BBC website reveals formulas for the “perfect voice” and why humans come to identify with certain speech tones and rhythms. According to linguist Andrew Linn, the perfect male voice combines both Jeremy Irons and Alan Rickman. Linn said Irons’ “deep gravely tones” inspire trust. While for women, a mixture including Dame [...]
Following the theme of yesterday's blog on keeping staff happy, in this issue's adviser our experts supplied tips for managers losing experienced staff to outsourcing firms. Their advice included using exit interviews to inform future policies, ensuring employees are being constantly challenged and providing work-life incentives. One such incentive is flexible working and the government [...]
According to this issue's Soapbox Jessica Pryce-Jones says the pressure of an economic downturn can demotivate staff and provides some handy tips to notice. "So how can you tell that your employees are heading down a slippery slope? Signs include: Less energy l Increased doubt about personal capability Less eye contact when you're asking for [...]
Today some banks in the UK are launching the "Faster Payments Service" which promises to reduce the amount of time it takes to process transactions for businesses and customers. So far 13 banks have signed up to the system, with others able to join in the future. Transactions worth less than £10,000 should now be [...]
Having attended three purchasing conferences on three different continents (Europe, America and Africa) in the past six weeks, I have not been surprised that all buyers around the world are dealing with the same kind of issues. Lack of profile, sustainability, changing economic conditions and global sourcing have been topics at all three events, with [...]
Attending a conference in Africa is different to attending one anywhere else in the world, primarily down to the enthusiasm shown by delegates. When the end of a session arrives at a conference held in the UK and Europe, and the call goes out for questions, there is usually a deathly silence, followed by nervous [...]
In the latest issue of SM, Richard Jones, group procurement director at Dairy Crest, says you must have experience of the critical part of your business to become a buying leader. He believes by understanding the heart of your company, you can become a better buyer. What do you think it takes to climb the [...]
In our story on May 15, Lifelong Learning UK, an independent body that promotes professional development of those working in further education, called on purchasing professionals to take up leadership roles in further education institutes. The project’s aim is to develop leaders for the future and help the further education sector build its business and [...]
In 2002 CIPS celebrated its 70th birthday and this article chartered the history of the purchasing profession. It references the F J White book Purchasing Pioneers published in 1970. In it White says bid rigging was endemic and companies would request tenders to supply products and raw materials, only to receive a dozen or so [...]
In the Knowledge Zone this issue, Kevin Keigher, a training and development specialist, suggests that action or peer learning groups can create a number of benefits for an organisation. They allow a group of between four and seven professionals to focus on a work-based problem or initiative and work together to resolve it. Keigher says [...]
